After parting ways with promotion coach Thomas Reis, Bochum finally scored against 1. FC Cologne in the Bundesliga. But they weren’t very happy at VfL.
Bochum played 1-1 (1-0) in pouring rain against 1. FC Köln on Sunday (September 18, 2022) and got at least the first point of the current Bundesliga season. Benno Schmitz from Cologne (9′) gave VfL the lead with an own goal, Linton Maina (88′) managed to equalise.
Bochum remain bottom of the table with one point, but are not the first club in Bundesliga history to start with seven defeats. With ten spots, Cologne is within easy reach of international venues.
Bochum in fortune and misfortune
Under interim coach Heiko Butscher, VfL soon took the lead, albeit happily. After a cross from left winger Gerrit Holtmann, Jonas fired at Hector Schmitz, from whose supporting leg the ball went into goal. Bochum were unlucky in the 20th minute: Holtmann put the ball into the left post from 14 meters out.
As a result, VfL relied mainly on a stable defense and hid for counter-attacks, but Cologne remained too offensively harmless despite the increased possibilities. FC’s best chance before the break was squandered by Ellyes Skhiri (40′) from a free-kick, when he headed just wide of the near corner.
Shocking moment for VfL
With a lot of passion and commitment, especially the 18-year-old Tim Oermann on his league debut, Bochum also worked on their first points in the second round. There was a moment of shock after a good hour. Substitute Maina headers from the far post after a cross. VfL goalkeeper Manuel Riemann swept the ball off the line with a world-class save. However, an offside goal would not have counted.
Final Cologne offensive rewarded
Cologne has now thrown everything forward. First Riemann (75) cleared a dangerous through ball from Eric Martel 35 meters from goal, a minute later the Bochum goalkeeper deflected a tricky shot from Maina around the post, then Sargis Adamyan only hit the inside post from nine metres.
In the end, FC was rewarded for their final offensive when Maina equalized just before the end of regular time. Nikola Soldo (90+4) also missed a huge chance to win in Cologne from close range.
How long does Butscher do this?
It is unclear how long Butscher will continue as interim coach of Bochum. The 42-year-old, who is currently in charge of the Under-19 team and has intervened for the third time, admitted to having “It’s a lot of fun to train with a Bundesliga team”. But he also pointed out: “I will only do this as long as it is necessary. We have communicated this clearly.”
Initial interviews with candidates
The bottom of the Bundesliga is expected to introduce a new manager during the international break. “First Conversations” Sports director Patrick Fabian has confirmed with the candidates for Reis’s successor at ‘DAZN’. The 34-year-old did not want to reveal anything else. The requirements profile is more complex than can be presented in seconds, said the former Bochum defender.
Bochum to Leipzig, Cologne against Dortmund
On matchday 8, VfL Bochum will travel to RB Leipzig (Saturday, October 1, 2022, 15:30). At the same time, the 1. FC Köln receives Borussia from Dortmund.
